Level 15
Super Summer.
Coming back from the mountain top I am reflected on all that has occurred in the past week. Jon Randles spoke this week and the Justin Cofield Band led worship and most of all God dwelt among His people. I love how God spoke through Randles and kicked my butt all week long. I never realized how unintentional about being a Believer I have been and I am still broken about it. I came to the saving knowledge of Christ at a young age and was called to the ministry of Christ 10 years ago. Life has not been easy with a lot of personal heartaches shaping me into who I am right now at this moment. But even that is a cop-out.. There are a lot of people in this world who have lost more than I ever will and they find a way to bless God and others in the midst of destruction and pain. And yet the biggest tragedy is that I have been a casual Christian for most of my life. And if you are reading this there is a big chance you are the same way right now. No more. I pray that I will never slump back into that pathetic existence. Harsh? maybe... But then I wonder what is the point of all this? Why are we here trying? I have one verse for you and you may not like this one...
Romans 8:29
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
A majority of the time we all get hung up on the first part of this verse with the word "predestined". I challenge you to not get hooked there this time althougth that is an important peice but to look past it now.. look at the phrase "to be conformed to the image of His Son" how beautifully written is it.
The reason we go to church is because we have a faith in Christ Jesus the Son of the Living Most High God. The problem therein is that the object of faith and the supreme point to it is not salvation. Most of us if we are honest, recognize the need for a Savior and accept and believe in Christ and then stop. We then sing songs about how He is mighty to save and how great our Savior is and rightly so. Don't get me wrong here, Jesus is our Savior and He is holy and just but most of us just see Him as our Savior when in truth that is just the doorway to our relationship with Him. He is soo much more than just our Savior. He is the Healer, Rebuilder, Rewarder, Alpha, Omega, Destroyer, Judge, King, Friend, Almighty God and the list continues.. But it is just too easy to call Him Savior and we feel not close enough to call Him God. That is why the extent of our relationship occurs when we need something or feel convicted of sin. I'm telling you know that Jesus is wanting more from us. He desires to be close and most of the time all we give Him is our lip service.
The purpose of faith is not salvation but rather to be conformed to be like Christ. What does this look like? I've only seen in in a few people to be honest. They are the people that you want to be around. They shine when there is no light. They are addicting. They shine the character and love of Christ which usually means they are around the people we try to stay away from. They reach people in ways that I desire greatly to. They are relational and positive and they are intentional in doing so. The purpose of faith is not so we can become converts to a religion and believe that one hour of congregational worship and teaching will suffice for a week. No, the purpose of faith is so that we can become more like Christ.
So be intentional, relational, and positive. Be a Dangerous Disciple and not another Casual Christian.
Let me leave you with this thought.. what is your Number One in life right now? What is it that you give most of your time to?
Coming back from the mountain top I am reflected on all that has occurred in the past week. Jon Randles spoke this week and the Justin Cofield Band led worship and most of all God dwelt among His people. I love how God spoke through Randles and kicked my butt all week long. I never realized how unintentional about being a Believer I have been and I am still broken about it. I came to the saving knowledge of Christ at a young age and was called to the ministry of Christ 10 years ago. Life has not been easy with a lot of personal heartaches shaping me into who I am right now at this moment. But even that is a cop-out.. There are a lot of people in this world who have lost more than I ever will and they find a way to bless God and others in the midst of destruction and pain. And yet the biggest tragedy is that I have been a casual Christian for most of my life. And if you are reading this there is a big chance you are the same way right now. No more. I pray that I will never slump back into that pathetic existence. Harsh? maybe... But then I wonder what is the point of all this? Why are we here trying? I have one verse for you and you may not like this one...
Romans 8:29
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
A majority of the time we all get hung up on the first part of this verse with the word "predestined". I challenge you to not get hooked there this time althougth that is an important peice but to look past it now.. look at the phrase "to be conformed to the image of His Son" how beautifully written is it.
The reason we go to church is because we have a faith in Christ Jesus the Son of the Living Most High God. The problem therein is that the object of faith and the supreme point to it is not salvation. Most of us if we are honest, recognize the need for a Savior and accept and believe in Christ and then stop. We then sing songs about how He is mighty to save and how great our Savior is and rightly so. Don't get me wrong here, Jesus is our Savior and He is holy and just but most of us just see Him as our Savior when in truth that is just the doorway to our relationship with Him. He is soo much more than just our Savior. He is the Healer, Rebuilder, Rewarder, Alpha, Omega, Destroyer, Judge, King, Friend, Almighty God and the list continues.. But it is just too easy to call Him Savior and we feel not close enough to call Him God. That is why the extent of our relationship occurs when we need something or feel convicted of sin. I'm telling you know that Jesus is wanting more from us. He desires to be close and most of the time all we give Him is our lip service.
The purpose of faith is not salvation but rather to be conformed to be like Christ. What does this look like? I've only seen in in a few people to be honest. They are the people that you want to be around. They shine when there is no light. They are addicting. They shine the character and love of Christ which usually means they are around the people we try to stay away from. They reach people in ways that I desire greatly to. They are relational and positive and they are intentional in doing so. The purpose of faith is not so we can become converts to a religion and believe that one hour of congregational worship and teaching will suffice for a week. No, the purpose of faith is so that we can become more like Christ.
So be intentional, relational, and positive. Be a Dangerous Disciple and not another Casual Christian.
Let me leave you with this thought.. what is your Number One in life right now? What is it that you give most of your time to?
Still, some good thoughts here and something for us all to reflect on.
Dad